African Mining April 2020 | Page 49

Illegal mine workings on the Johannesburg West Rand. ILLEGAL MINING A THREAT TO THE INDUSTRY Rampant illegal mining poses a considerable threat to the formal mining industry in terms of sustainability as well as posing innumerable risk to the wellbeing of surrounding communities, writes Nico Pienaar. A s a result, the surface mining industry association is working closely with its members and authorities to identify and clamp down on illegal mining of all types, from small borrow pits to well organised, large-scale mining undertaken by syndicates. The recent deaths of seven illegal miners on the East Rand underscores the urgent need to identify rogue www. africanmining.co.za African Mining Publication INSIGHT  Nico Pienaar, director of ASPASA. African Mining African Mining  April 2020  47